What Happens in Coaching: What It Is, How It Works, and What Your First Session Really Looks Like
If you’re exploring coaching, chances are you’re feeling something shift inside you. Maybe you’re craving clarity. Maybe you’re tired of running on empty. Maybe you’re sensing God nudging you toward something more aligned — something more you.
But even when you know you need support, the coaching process can feel mysterious. What actually happens in a session? How do you know if it will help? What if you’re not “ready”?
Let’s take the mystery out of it.
Faith-based coaching simply means partnering with a certified coach to uncover what God has already placed in you — your purpose, your gifts, your next steps — and then taking practical action rooted in scripture and prayer. Here’s what happens in coaching, from the very first conversation.
If you’ve been searching for Christian coaching that blends clarity, purpose, and spiritual grounding, this will help you understand exactly what to expect. And if you’re right here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, you can start exactly where you are.
The Framework That Helps You Move From Anxiety to Alignment
A-R-T is a simple approach designed to help you uncover your God-given purpose and walk it out with confidence. It’s simple, but it’s powerful — and it mirrors the way God often leads us through transformation.
A — Aspire
What’s happening inside you: your patterns, your stress points, your desires, your frustrations, your gifts? Once you see what’s going on, we work together to define what you actually want — not what others expect from you. This is where we dig deeper. We explore possibilities, obstacles, values, strengths, and spiritual alignment. Exploration reveals options you didn’t know you had.
R — Renew
Renewal is the shift — the moment your mindset, beliefs, or habits begin to transform. Renewal creates momentum.
T — Transform
Finally, you take aligned, intentional steps toward the life God designed for you. Action builds confidence.
A-R-T is about uncovering what God already placed within you and learning how to walk in it with peace and purpose. If you’d like to explore the A-R-T framework on your own first, it’s at the heart of my book, Art of Being You: Breaking the Anxiety Cycle.
Coaching doesn’t give you a new purpose — it helps you uncover the one God already placed in you.
What Happens in Coaching: Your First Session Looks Like
If you’ve never been coached before, you might imagine something formal, intimidating, or overly structured. It’s not. Your faith-based coaching experience begins with a conversation, not a test.
A first session is warm, conversational, and deeply grounding. Here’s what typically happens:
We Start With Your Story
You share what brought you here — the tension, the questions, the exhaustion, the desire for something more. Most people say they feel relief within the first 10 minutes.
We Identify Your Current Season
Are you in a season of transition? Burnout? Exploration? Growth? Understanding your season helps us understand your needs. You might hear questions like:
• “What feels heavy right now?”
• “Where do you feel God nudging you?”
• “What part of your life feels misaligned?”
• “What do you want that you haven’t said out loud yet?”
These questions aren’t meant to pressure you. They’re meant to open doors.
We Identify One Immediate Shift
Every first session ends with one small, meaningful shift — something you can do, think, or change this week that brings you closer to alignment. It might be:
• setting a boundary
• releasing a fear
• reframing a belief
• taking one small step toward a dream
• giving yourself permission to rest
You leave with clarity, not confusion.
We Discuss What Ongoing Coaching Would Look Like
If you want to continue, we talk about frequency, goals, and what support looks like. If you don’t, you still walk away with insight and direction. There’s no pressure. Ever.
You don’t have to have it all figured out to start. You just have to be willing to take the first step.
Common Objections (And the Truth Behind Them)
“I’m not sure coaching is for me.”
Most people feel this way at first. Coaching isn’t about being “the kind of person who gets coached.” It’s about being someone who wants clarity, peace, and purpose — and that’s you.
“I don’t have time.”
Coaching doesn’t add pressure; it removes it. One aligned decision can save you months of stress. And if you’re wondering whether coaching is worth it, consider what staying stuck is already costing you — your peace, your energy, your sense of purpose.
“I should be able to figure this out on my own.”
You can — but you don’t have to. Even Moses needed Aaron. Even Paul needed Barnabas. Support is biblical.
“What if I’m too overwhelmed to start?”
Then coaching is exactly what you need. You don’t have to show up polished — just present.
“I’m afraid of what I’ll discover.”
Most people aren’t afraid of clarity. They’re afraid of change. But God doesn’t reveal anything He won’t walk you through.
“I can’t afford coaching right now.”
That’s a real concern, and it deserves an honest answer. Start with the free discovery call — it costs nothing and gives you a clear picture of what support would look like for you. Coaching is an investment in the years ahead, not just the weeks you’re in it.
Faith-based coaching works because it addresses the root, not just the symptoms.
Faith-Based Coaching in Tulsa, Oklahoma (and Nationwide)
Whether you’re in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Jenks, Bixby, Coweta, or anywhere across Oklahoma, you’re surrounded by people who feel the same tension you do — wanting their work, life, and faith to align.
As a certified faith-based purpose coach, I help professionals bridge that gap. Coaching is available locally and virtually, nationwide. If you’ve been searching for life coaching in Tulsa or a “faith-based coach near me,” you can also find me on Google — my Business Profile is a great place to ask a question before we ever talk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes faith-based coaching different?
Faith isn’t an add-on — it’s the foundation. We integrate scripture, prayer, spiritual discernment, and practical strategy. I go deeper on this in Faith-Based Coaching: Why Faith Changes Everything.
Do I need to know my goals before starting?
No. Many people begin coaching because they don’t know their goals. Clarity is part of the process.
What if I’m nervous?
That’s normal. Most clients say the nerves disappear within minutes.
How long does coaching take?
Transformation varies, but most clients experience noticeable shifts within the first 2–3 sessions.
What happens in a life coaching session?
In a faith-based life coaching session, we start with your story, name the season you’re in, and identify one meaningful shift you can make this week. Sessions are conversational, not clinical, and grounded in scripture, prayer, and practical strategy. You can meet locally in the Tulsa area or virtually from anywhere.
How much does faith-based coaching cost?
The investment depends on the coaching package and how often you meet. The best place to start is a free discovery call, where we talk through your goals and find the option that fits your season and budget. Current options are listed on my coaching services page.
Is life coaching worth it?
For most people, yes — when the coaching is rooted in what they believe and focused on real, practical change. Many people notice meaningful shifts within the first two or three sessions, and one aligned decision can save months of stress. The free discovery call lets you decide for yourself, with no pressure.
Related reading: 10 Bible Verses for Work That Change How You Show Up
Your Purpose Is Calling — Are You Ready to Answer?
You don’t have to stay stuck, overwhelmed, or misaligned. You don’t have to keep guessing what God wants you to do next. You don’t have to carry the weight alone.
If you’re ready to move from confusion to clarity, from anxiety to alignment, from exhaustion to purpose — I’d love to walk with you.
You can explore my coaching services or start with a free discovery call. Let’s uncover the work God created you to do — with joy, peace, and intention. Ready when you are: explore my faith-based coaching services or schedule your free discovery call here.
Jannette McCormick is a certified faith-based purpose coach and the founder of Jannette McCormick - Faith-Based Purpose Coach in Tulsa, Oklahoma. SPHR- and CEBS-certified with a background as a corporate HR leader, she helps faith-driven professionals turn anxiety into alignment and rediscover their God-given calling. She is the author of Art of Being You: Breaking the Anxiety Cycle and the creator of the A.R.T. framework — Aspire, Renew, Transform.
